Venetian blind slat



Aug. 15, 1939 w. D. CLARK. JR 2,169,873 VENETIAN BLIND SLAT Filed May21, 1938 Z 7/ is FIG. 2.

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INVENTOR I awrwsss: W W

.44? v ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in Venetian blind slats.

It is the usual practice to construct Venetian blind slats of wood of athickness to provide the necessary rigidity throughout the lengththereof to avoid sagging when supported upon the ladder suspensiontapes. The wooden blind slats require painting to meet the demand ofvarious colors to suit the room furnishings of the users, and in view ofthe many slats which must be used in the making of a single Venetianblind, wooden slat blinds are expensive, and many prospective users ofmoderate means are therefore unable 0 equip the windows of their homewith this a l5 traetive and popular style of window blind. It

is therefore one of the main objects of this invention to provide aVenetian blind slat which is constructed of an inexpensive flexiblematerial made sufficiently rigid to be self supporting to avoid sagging;which doesnot require painting, and which may be made in various colorsor designs to suit the artistic requirements of a user.

Another feature of the invention resides in a Venetian. blind slat whichis constructed of a =relatively thin still but flexible material such asfibre (paper or cardboard) or sized fabric, the

same being of flat tubular shape in cross section with the opposite sidewalls bulged or arched outwardly to impart the necessary rigidity to theslat throughout the length thereof. Another feature of the invention isthe proion of a Venetian blind slat constructed of fibre or fabric whichis relatively flat and tubular in cross section, and in which theinherent spring action of the rolled fold edges of the slat imparts anoutward bulging or arching of the side walls thereof.

A still further feature of the invention is to provide an inexpensiveVenetian blind slat which will not warp by reason of atmosphericchanges, and which may be disposed of if soiled or damaged, by replacingthe same at no great expense to the user of a Venetian blind equippedwith this improved slat. Other features of the invention will becomeapparent as the specification is read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one form of my improved Venetian blindslat.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view on the line2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional perspective view of a construction similar tothat shown in Figures 1 and 2' but showing decorative reinforcing stripsof opposite side walls l3 and I4.

wardly thereover extending along the longitudinally edges of the slat.

Figure 4 is a sectional perspective view of a slightly modified form ofthe invention.

Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, are vertical transverse 5 sectional views ofseveral other modified forms of the invention.

Figure 9 is a sectional perspective view of a still furthermodification.

Referring .to the drawing by reference charl0 acters, and at present tothe form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the numerall0 designates a Venetian blind slat in its entirety and which isconstructed in accordance with one specific form of my invention. Theslat 15 Ill comprises a flat tubular rectangular shaped envelope body Hof any desired length to suit the side-of the window on which a Venetianblind made of the slats I0 is adapted to be installed. The body I I isconstructed of a single blank of 20 stifi but flexible paper, sizedfabric or the like, the said blank being of a width slightly larger thantwice the width of the slat body, the said blank being foldedlongitudinally to one side of its longitudinal center as at l2 toprovide a pair 25 The wall ll attaching flap l5 folded inon thelongitudinal fold l6 which lies inwardly against the wall I3 adjacentthe free longitudinal edge thereof. The outer 0 has a longitudinal sideof the flap I5 is adhesively secured to the inner lapping surface of thewall 13 as at H, thus the walls l3 and M are connected together alongtheir longitudinal edges. The folds l2 and I6 are rolled folds and theinherent springy action of 35 the material from which the slat isconstructed causes the walls l3 and M to bulge or arch outwardly whichincreases the rigidity of the slat body I l sufiicient to support itselfwithout sagging when the slat I0 is in use in position upon the 40ladder tapes of a Venetian blind structure. The slat body H is providedwith transversely extending elongated slots l8 adjacent the endsthereoifor the passage of the hoisting cords of a Venetian blind structure. 45

In Figure 3 of the drawing,- the same construction as that justdescribedis shownwith the exception that instead of gluing the flap l5to the wall l3, the free longitudinal edges. of the walls l3 and I l-arefastened together by 50 a strip of gum tape l9 folded over the outersurfaces of thewalls I3 and H. The rolled folds I 2 and I6 act to bulgethe side walls "as previously explained. In order to balance theappearance of the slat, the other longitudinal edge of the slat 55 bodyis likewise bound by a strip of gum tape 20. The binding tapes l9 and 20may be of the same color, or a contrasting color than the body I l toimpart a decorative appearance to the slat.

In Figure 4 of the drawing, the blank of flexible material from whichthe slat body is constructed is folded on its longitudinal center toprovide identical side walls 2i-2I connected along a longitudinal rolledfold 22. The longitudinal free edges of the walls 2! are connected by astrip of gum tape.23 folded on its longitudinal center to lap the walls2| and which is provided with a springy rolled fold 24 which coacts withthe rolled fold 22 to impart the desired outward arching: of the sidewalls 2B. A gum strip 25 binds the rolled fold 22 to give a balancedeffect to the slat.

I In Figure of the drawing the body of the slat is constructed of twoidentical side wall strips 26-26 of flexible material joined together attheir longitudinal edges by strips of gum tape 21-21 folded uponthemselves andsecured to the inner sides of the strips 26. The rolledfold edges 28 of the strips of folded gum tape impart the necessaryspring action to cause the side walls 26 of the slat body to bulgeinward and provide the desired rigidity to the slat.

In Figure 6 of the drawing, a further modified form of slat constructionis illustrated in which the slat body comprises a pair of identicalpaper strips 23-49 enclosed within a fabric outer flat tubular envelopecovering 30. The envelope covering 30 may be of any desired fabric suchas that from which shade curtains are made and may be of any color.Whereas the longitudinal sidefolds 3l--3l may have a slight tendency toarch the walls of the envelope covering and inner strips 29 outwardly,this arching is made positive by theinsertionof a corrugated paperfiller strip 32 between the strips 29 and which filler strip alsoimparts added rigidity to the slat.

In Figure '7 a still further modification of the invention isillustrated in which the slat body includes an outer fiat tubular fabriccovering 33 into which a paper or cardboard filler and spreader member34 is inserted. The member 34 includes a continuous side wall 35 andunfolded loose overlapping flaps 36-36 folded on the longitudinalrolled. folds 31. The folds 31 impart an outward spread of the flaps 36and an outward bulge or arch'to the wall 35 which spreading of the flapsand bulging imparts an outward arching to be imparted to the envelopecovering 33. The outer covering 33 is constructed in the same manner asthe slat body H but being of fabric instead of stiff but flexiblecardboard, it requires a filler insert to render the same sufficientlyrigid to be self sustaining.

In Figure 8 of the drawing I provide a flat tubular outer fabriccovering 38 similar to that shown at 33 in the preceding figure whichencloses two separate filler and arching members 39. Each member 39 isconstructed of a single blank of cardboard folded along its longitudinalcenter to provide a. rolled fold 40 and a pair of flaps 4|. The members39 are arranged in reverse fashion with the flaps 4| of one memberinterfltting and lapping the flaps 4! of the other member. The rolledfolds 40 of the members '39 impart the spring action for spreading theflaps 4i outwardly and thereby impart an outward bulge to the oppositesides of the flat tubular envelope covering 38.

The form of the invention shown in Figure 9 of the drawing resemblessomewhat the construction shown in Figure 5, in that the body of theslat is composed of two like paper strips 42-42 arranged one over theother, but in this embodiment, the bindinggum tapes 43-43 overlap theouter sides of the strips 42 and are adhesively secured thereto. Whereasthe rolled folds 44 of the gum tapes may have a tendency to cause thestrips 42 to arch or bulge outwardly, this offset is assured by theinsertion of a corrugated cardboard filler strip 45 between the strips42.

While I have shown and described several variations of the invention, itwill be noted that in each instance the structure includes a relativelyflat tubular slat body constructed of flexible ma.- terial which initself is incapable of being self supporting, but which is madesufficiently rigid and self supporting throughout its length by archingor outward bulging the opposite side walls of the slat body.

Heretofore, I have mentioned that the flat tubular slat body isconstructed by folding the blank material upon itself, but I wish it tobe understood that in the course of manufacture it might be found morepractical to first form the body in round tubular or cylindrical shapeand then impart a flattening action to the tubular body structure. Suchmethod will produce the same result as that hereinbefore described.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A Venetian blind slat comprising a substantially flat tubular slatbody constructed of flexible material having its opposed side wallsarched outwardly from one longitudinal edge to the other to cause saidbody to be self supporting throughout its length.

2. A Venetian blind slat comprising a relatively flat envelope slat bodyconstructed of flexible material, and folded means along thelongitudinal edges of said slat body acting upon the opposed side wallsof said envelope slat body to cause the same to arch outwardly to impartrigidity to said slat body throughout the length there- 3. A Venetianblind slat comprising a substantially flat slat body constructed of aflexible material whose inherent characteristics is incapable of beingself supporting, and folded means along the longitudinal edges of saidslot body for causing the opposite side walls of said slat body toflexibly arch outwardly from one longitudinal edge of said body to theother longitudinal edge thereof.

4.A Venetian blind slat comprising a single elongated blank of flexiblematerial folded upon itself, and folded means connecting the free edgesof the folded blank together to provide a substantially flat tubularslat body, the inherent outward spring action of the fold of said blankof material and said folded connecting means imparting an outwardbulging to the opposed folds of said folded material to render said slatbody rigid throughout its length.

5. A Venetian blind slat comprising a single elongated blank of flexiblematerial folded longitudinally upon itself, and a strip of tape foldedover the free longitudinal edges of said blank and adhesively securedthereto to provide a relatively flat tubular slat body, the springaction of the fold of said blank and the fold of said tape coacting toimpart an outward transverse bulge to the slat body to make the samerigid.

6. A Venetian blind slat comprising a pair of superposed normally flatflexible body strips of like size, flexible folded connecting stripsadhesively secured to said body strips along their lon gitudinal edges,the inherent spring vaction of said'folded connecting strips impartingan outward transverse bulge to said body strips to provide asubstantially rigid flat tubular slat body.

'7. A Venetian blind slat comprising a slat body constructed of flexiblefibrous material which is substantially flat tubular shape in crosssection, and folds along the longitudinal edges of .said body forcausing the opposed side Walls of said body to arch outwardly.

8. A Venetian blind slat comprising an elongated blank of flexiblefibrous material composed of one or more plie which is foldedlongitudinally upon itself to provide a pair of opposed side walls, andfolded means connecting the free longitudinal edges of the folded blanktogether to provide a substantially flat tubular slat body, the inherentoutward spring action of the fold of said blank of material and saidfolded connecting means imparting an outward bulging to the opposedfolds of said folded material to render said 10 slat body rigidthroughout its length.

WILLIAM D. CLARK, JR.

